The results of a survey involving 900 Venetian companies have revealed that the second quarter has been a positive one, with overall production up 2.8% compared with the same quarter in 2006.

Almost all sectors showed positive growth, including food, chemicals and electrical goods. Despite this, textile production fell 3.4%, while footwear dropped 1.2% and leather fell 6.2%. Despite an overall increase of 0.4% for the export sector, textile exports fell 1.3% and leather exports dropped 3.7%.

Similar trends were reflected across Italy. June producer prices for leather goods prices fell 0.3% and other declines have been recorded for other manufacturing products, including furniture. However, for the first six months of 2007, overall producer prices rose 3.5%.

Preliminary ISTAT (Italian National Statistical Institute) figures for July show a 0.2% price increase compared with June and a 1.6% increase compared with July 2006.